Illuminating means for telephone calling devices



Nov. 24, 1931 J. G. sT ocK 1,833,135

ILLUMINATING MEANS'FOR TELEPHONE CALLING DEVICES Filed May 27, 1930 lEbl abtozmq Patented Nov. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES .rosnrn G. s'raocx, or rnrsnuaen, rnnnsnvanm ILLUMINATING MEANS FOR TELEPHONE CALLING DEVICES Application filed. Kay 27, 1830. Serial No. 456,241. I

This invention relates to telephone calling devices of that type embodying a base, an annular series of digits on the base, and a dial rotatable on the base and provided with an annular series of openings through'which the digits are visible.

Theinvention relates more particularly to means for illuminating the digits of a calling device of the character stated, and has for one of its objects to provide illuminating means for this purpose which shall be simple, highly eflicient and capable of being manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost, which shall be adapted to be readily applied to the base of the calling device and which will not interfere with the manipulation of the dial of the calling device or the operation of the telephone.

To attain the foregoing and other objects,

the nature of which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comp-rehends the provision of an illuminating means of the character stated which shall embody an incandescent electric lamp and a casing for the lamp, the casing being adapted to be secured at one end to a side of the base of the calling device and provided at said end thereof with an opening adapted to register with.

the space between the base and dial of the calling device so as to permit the rays of the lamp to be reflected onto the digits of the calling device.

The invention further comprehends the provision of illuminating means of the character stated wherein the casing shall 'be adapted to extend radially from the base of the calling device, wherein the lamp shall be arranged inthe outer endof the casing in ali'nement with the opening in theinner end of the 40 casing, and wherein a reflector shall be arranged within/the casing outwardly of the lamp to direct the rays of the lamp through the opening inthe inner end of the casing and onto the'digits of the calling device.

The invention further comprehends the provisionof an illuminating means of the character stated wherein the casing shall be adapted to project radially beyond the base of the telephone instrument in connection with which the calling device is used, and

of Figure 2;

wherein the casing shall be provided with a portion'conforming to the configuration of the upper side of the base of the telephone instrument and adapted to rest thereon to permit the casing to be supported by the base of the telephone instrument. r

The invention further comprehends the provision of an illuminating means of the character stated which shall beequipped with a split band adapted to be arranged in surrounding relation to the base of the calling dev ce so as to secure the casing'in applied position, and wherein the band shall be adapted to extend acrossthe space between the base and dial of the callingdevice and provided wlth a polished inner surface to efiect the diffusion of the lamp rays over all the digits of the calling device.

The invention further comprehends the provislon of an illuminating means of the character stated wherein the casing shall be adapted to contain a storage battery for the lamp, and wherein the casing shall be provided at its outer end with a door adapted to carry a socket, reflector and switch for the lamp, together with an input socket to permit the lamp to be supplied with current from a house circuit when it is not desired to use a storage battery.

The invention is hereinafter fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view partly in horizontal section and partly in top plan of a telephone instrument provided with a dial calling device equipped with an illuminating means constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the vertical planes indicated by the line 22 of Figure 1;

1 Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane indicated by the line 33 Figure 4. is a diagrammatic view illustrating the connection and relation between the input socket, switch, lamp and conductors of the illuminating means, and

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating the 1 flanges 18 on the door.

connection between the lamps, switch and a battery in the casing.

Referring in detail to the drawings, 1 designates the base, and 2 the standard of a telephone instrument of the desk type and equipped with a calling device of the dial t The calling device comprises a cylindiical base 3 which is mounted upon the base 1 in front of the standard 2, digits 4 arran ed in an annular series'upon the upper side of the base 3, a dial 5 mounted upon the base 3 and provided with openings 6 through which the numbers 4 are visible, and a finger stop 7 secured to the base 3 and overlying the dial.

The means for illuminating the numbers 4 of the calling device comprises a casing 8 which is of rectangular formation in plan, rests at one end upon the base 1 of the telephone instrument, and is secured to the base 3 of the callinw device by a band 9. The casing 8 extends radially from the bases 1 and 3. The inner end portion of the casing 8 is reduced in depth and extends from a plane coincident with the upper side of the dial 5 to the upper surface of the base 1. The lower wall 10 of this portion of the casing 8, which is transversely and longitudinally curved to conform to the configuration of the base 1, rests upon this base. The inner end wall 10a of the casing 8 is of arcuate formation to conform to the base 3 and dial 5. The outer portion of the casing 8 extends from a plane coincident with the upper surface of the dial 5 to a plane coincident with the lower surface of the base 1. The outer portion of the casing 8 is provided at its lower side with a pad 11 which is alined with the usual pad 12 of thebase 1, the pad 11 preventing the casing from marring the desk, table or other support for the telephone instrument.

The inner end wall 10a of the casing 8 is provided with an opening 13 which alines with the space between the base 3 and dial 5 and through which the rays of incandescent electric lamps 14 pass to illuminate the digits 4. The lamps 14 are arranged in the outer end of the casing 8 in alinement with the opening 13, and sockets 15 therefor are secured to a door 16 which is removably secured in the outer endof the casing by screws 17 which pass through the walls of the casing and enter inwardly directed Reflectors 19 secured to the sockets 15 outwardly of the lamps 14, direct the rays of the lamps through the opening 13 and onto the digits 4.

A battery 20 consisting of one or more dry cells is arranged in the outer end portion of the casing 8, and the terminals 21 thereof are connected to conductor strips 22 which are secured to and insulated from the door 16 and which are connected to the contacts of the sockets 15 by conductors 23. A

switch 24, which may be of any well known or appropriate construction and provided with a control knob 25 is carried by the door 16 and is interposed in one of the conductors 23. The switch 24 is arranged at the inner side of the door 16, and the control knob 25 is arranged at the outer side of the door to permit the convenient opening and closing of the switch. If desired, an input socket 26 may be secured to the door 16, as suggested in Figure 4, in order to permit the lamps 14 to be supplied with current from a house socket. \Vhen used, the input socket 26 will extend through the door 16 and will be connected to the lamps 14 and switch 24, as shown in Figure 4.

The band 9 of the split type, and the sections thereof are secured to the inner edges of the side walls of the casing 8. The band 9 is adapted to be arranged in surrounding relation to the base 3, and the sections thereof are provided with lugs 51a for the reception of a bolt 27 adapted to secure the band to the base. The band 9 extends across the space between the base 3 and dial 5, and the inner surface thereof is highly polished to effect the diffusion of the lamp over all of the digits 4.

The casing 8, which may be molded or otherwise manufactured of metal, rubber, glass, bakelite or the like, may be readily secured to the base 3 by the screws 17 or in any other suitable manner. The casing 8 may be also pressed from metal or the like or made of sections which may be secured together in any suitable manner.

When it is desired to illuminate the numbers, it is only necessary to close the switch 24, and this may be readily done due to the convenient location of the switch. The switch 24 may be of the automatically opening type so that it will, on being released, automatically break the circuit of the lamps 14. The band 9, in addition to securing the casing 8 to the base 3, provides means to H diffuse the light over the digits 4, and it enables the casing to be readily applied or removed and is spaced from the periphery of the dial 5 sufficiently to prevent its interfering with the free manipulation of the dial. The door 16 may be readily removed to per-l mit the replacement of the lamps 14 and battery 20, it being noted that the lamps, reflectors, conductors 22 and 23 and switch 24 are carried by and removable with the door.

While I have described the principle of the invention, together with the structure which I now consider the preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the structure shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scopeof the invention as claimed.

I claim I 1. Means for illuminating the digits of a iii) telephone calling device comprising a casing provided at one end with an opening and at its other end with a door, an incandescent electric lamp secured to the door and arranged within the casing, a battery arranged in the casing and in circuit with the lamp, and a switch carried by the door and in circuit with the battery and lamp.

2. Means for illuminating the digits of a telephone calling device comprising a casing provided at one end with an opening and at its other end with a door, an incandescent electric lamp secured to the door and arranged within the casing, a dry cell battery arranged in the casing, contact strips secured to the door and electrically connected to the battery and to the lamp, and a switch carried by the door and connected between the lamp and one of the contact strips.

3. Means for illuminating the digits of the calling device of a telephone, comprising a casing having inner and outer portions of which the latter is deeper than the former, said outer casing portion being adapted to extend radially from the base of the telephone and said inner casing portion being adapted to overlie the base, said base having a spherical bottom wall adapted to rest upon said base and having an arcuate inner wall provided with an opening adapted to contact with the lateral side of the base of the calling device, a band secured to the inner end of said inner casing portion and adapted to embrace the base of the calling device to secure the casing in applied position, an electric lamp within said outer casing portion and a source of current for the lamp located in said outer casing portion.

4. Means for illuminating the digits of the q calling device of a telephone, comprising a casing adapted to be arranged in radial relation to the calling device and having a spherical bottom wall and an arcuate inner end wall of which the latter is provided with an opening, said bottom wall being adapted to rest upon the base of the telephone and said end wall being adapted to contact with the base of the calling device, a band secured to thecasing and adapted to embrace the base of the calling device to secure the casing in applied position, and a source of light within the casing.

5. Means for illuminating the digits of the calling device of a telephone, comprisin a.

, casing adapted to be arranged in radial re 9.-

tion to the calling device and havin a spherical bottom wall and an arcuate inner end wall of which the latter is rovided with an opening, said bottom wall eing adapted to rest upon the base of the telephone and said end wall being adapted to contact with the base of the calling device, a band consisting of sections each secured at one end to the inner end of the casing and provided at their other ends with lugs, the band sections signature.

JOSEPH G. STROCK. 

